Dust collector



Feb' 17, 1942` f c. M. voLLMl-:R l2,273,341

DUST COLLECTOR Filed April 5, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 17 1942. c. M. voLLMER DUST COLLECTOR Filed April -5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 reame Feb. ir, 1942 maar r orrioa 2,273,341 DUST CGLLEMYOR Charles M. Vollmer, St. Leiris, Mo.

Application April 5, 194.0, Serial No. 327,953

(Cl. l83--26)m 6 Claims.

This invention relates to iiy ash collectors or l dust separators, and is an improvement upon the invention disclosed in my copending application filed July 29, 1939, Serial Number 287,356.

Among the main objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus wherein the fly ash or dust is separated from the air by a rotary cage deflector and is collected in the lower end of the apparatus which contains water while the airis discharged outwardly through the upper end of said apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dust collector or separator comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet, the latter being arranged axially inthe upper end of said casing, and a cylindrical cage revolubly mounted in said casing coaxially with said outlet, and having its upper end provided with an extension projecting into said outlet for discharging purified air thereinto, said cage having its peripheral wall formed by a plurality of vertically disposed spaced-apart rods forming a plurality of' openings through which air passes into said cage, while the dust particles are engaged by ysaid rods and are thrown outwardly by said rods.

Another object of the invention is the pro'- vision of a casing having an air outlet extending axially from the upper end thereof and having its lower end lled with water, and a. cylindrical cage revolubly mounted in said casing above the level of said waterand having its upper end communicating with said casing outlet, the periphera wall of said cage being provided with a pluralit of vertically disposed elongated openings througlwhich air passes into said cage, while the dust' particles are thrown outwardly by the impact with the solid portions of said wall, there being a tube extending axially downward from said cage into said water, the upper end of said tube terniinating in two branches extending diagonally upward in said cage and through saidvperipheral Wall at diametrically opposed points, whereby the rotation of said cage causes water to be sprayed from said branches into the upper end of said casing.

- With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-,-

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through my dust collector.

Figure 2 is ahorizontal cross section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a horizontal cross section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical cross section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5' is an enlarged vertical cross section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure is an enlarged detail cross section4 taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a reduced side elevation showing one form of drive for the centrifugal drum. l

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, Il! indicates a stationary casing having an air inlet II and an air outlet I2. This casing is preferably of cylindrical shape having a peripheral wall Illa, a flat top wall IIIb, and an inverted cone-shaped bottom Wall II'Ic. The air inlet II is located in the top wall lub-near the peripheral wall Ilia and extends a suitable distance into saidA casing. The air outlet I2 is disposed coaxially with said casing and is preferably of larger diameter than said inlet II.

' A cage or centrifugal separator Il is disposed in said casing below said outlet and is substantially of larger-diameter than the latter so as to overlap the same for a suitable distance. This cage consists of a top wall I5, a bottom wall I6, and aperipheral wall I1. The top wall I5 has a tubular upward extension I5a which projects into said air outlet I2. Preferably, a dust seal I8 is provided between the opposed faces of said top wall lub and said top wall I5 to prevent dust laden air from escaping therebetween into said outlet I2.

The bottom wall I6 of cage Il is preferably cone-shaped to form said wall sloping outwardly from the center. Fixed to this bottom wall is the lower end of a vertically disposed revoluble shaft I9. The upper end of outlet I2 is curved, as indicated at I2a, to connect with a horizontally disposed conduit 20. The shaft I9 extends upwardly and outwardly through said curved end I2a and has a bearing 2| (Fig. '7) therein. A pulley 22 iS xed to the upper end of shaft I9. Preferably, the top wall I5 is connected to the shaft, by means of a plurality of arms 25, extending radially from the hub 26 fixed to said shaft I9.

The peripheral 'wall I'I consists of a plurality of vertically disposed spaced-apart members 2l. the lower ends of which are fixed to the rim of bottom wall I6 and the upper ends of which are fixed to the rim of the top wall I5. Members 21 are in the instant case in the shape of rods of a given diameter and are spaced from each other a suitable distance in a definite relation with the speed at which the cage ls operated.

4The lower portion of the casing I0 below the lower end o! cage` I4 is lled with water which is admitted thereinto through a water inlet 28 hav- A this fitting is formed with a downwardly Vopening axial bore 34 and secured in this bore is the upper end of a tube 35. This tube extends downwardly a suitable distance into the water contained in casing I0. Extending diagonally outward from bore 34 are two dia-metrically opposed bores 36 .in which are xed the inner ends of tubes 31.

The outer ends f vthese extend a slight. distance beyond the rods 21. As the outside diameter of each tube is larger than the distance between two adjacent rods 21, the latter are cut away at points where each tube 31 projects outwardly.

The outer-end of each tube 31 is cut obliquely, as indicated at 38, so as to, present the ovalshaped opening to the rearof the direction of rotation. 'Ihus as the cageor druin I'1 is rotated, suction is produced in tubes 31 and water is drawn upwardly through tube 35 and discharged within the upper half of the casing in a spray through the discharge ends 38 of tubes 31. The mist or ne spray thus created helps to separate dust particles, fly ash, and other particles from the air, and only puried air enters the cage I1. The high rotation of tube -35 has a tendency to set the water in circular motion. The centrifugal force would cause the water to move outwardly against the peripheral wall Illa and in- 4terfere with the eicient operation of the device.

Thus the casing would be subjected to able vibration and the wall heavy strain by the volume of water forced thereagainst. Also sufiicient water might move outwardly from the center of the casing to leave the lower endof the pipe 35 dry.

In order to hold this water stationary a plurality of baille plates 39 are arranged radially in Vthe lower end of said casing so that the circular motion of the water is checked.

Preferably, a cylindrical screen 40, closed at its lower end and of suitable mesh, is supported in said casing in spaced relation with tube 35. The upper end of this screen member extends a suitable distance above the level ofthe water. The purpose of this screen is to prevent foreign particles contained in the water from clogging said tube.

The seal I8 consists of a ring 4I (Fig. 5), fixed to the underside of top platelb and provided with a pair of concentric ribs 4Ia and a groove 4Ib and a, ring 42 fixed to the top wall I5 and provided with a plurality of concentric grooves 42a for receiving ribs 4Ia and a central rib 42h engaging groove 4Ib and external shoulders 42C for overlapping the edges of ring 4 I.

In the operation-of the apparatus, the cage I4 undesir- Ia placed under manner, such as ablower 45.

is driven at a suitable speed. The dust laden y air is forced into the casing I0 through the inlet pipe II. 'The air in the casing enters,`through the spaces between rods or members 21, said cage I4 and thence travels upwardly into the outlet I2. However, the dust particles carried by the air impinga against and are engaged by the rapidly moving rods 21 which throw said dust particles outwardly against the peripheral wall of the casing. These dust particles upon striking the peripheral wall of the'casing drop into the water contained in the lower end thereof. This water can be periodically, discharged from the casing by means of the valve 3 I.

The valve 3I` is sufficiently large so that the water can be discharged quickly without stopping the operation of the apparatus. Thus the water acts as a collecting medium to settle the dust in the casing and also serves as a cleaning agent for quickly removing the dust from the the device.

The bars or members 21 are round in cross section, as I found by experiments that this form is the most eicient. The diameters of the rods and the spacing thereof from each other controls the degree of fineness of the material separated from the air. The bottom of the cage slopes outwardly to assist in the proper functioning of the device. If desired, a bearing 44 for shaft I9 can be placed in outlet I2 above extensions I 5a. The dust and air is forced into the separator through the inlet II in any suitable The purified air or gas is discharged to atmosphere through the outlet I2.

The separator can be used for separating dust, y ash and other fine material from air and other gaseous uids.

The separation is eiected mechanically by the deiiection produced by the rotation of the cage. As the air or other gas is forced into the casing it escapes into the cage through the spaces formed by the bars 21 and' then travels upwardly into the outlet I 2. The dust particles are engaged by members 21 of cage I4 and are thrown radially outward by the impact and drop into the Water contained in the lower end of said casing. An end thrust bearing 46 can be placed on shaft I9 above bearing 2|.

The high speed at which the cage I4 and pipe 35 rotate. and the disposal of the nozzle 39 rearwardly of the direction of rotation creates suction in pipes or tubes 31 which causes water to be drawn upwardly through tube 35 and discharged from said nozzles in a fine mist or spray into said casing. This moisture collects on the dust particles carriedv by the air in said casing and helps in separating said particles from the air. Thus no priming is necessary and the water is discharged through nozzles 38 as soon as the device reaches a definite speed.

'I'he water contained in the lowei` end of the casing is not agitated. The level of the water is below said cage I4 and below the lower end of tting 32 and only tube 35 extends into the water. As this tube is of a very small diameter its rotation does not disturb the Water. The screen v4I) tends to check any rotary motion of the water which might be induced by said tube 35. The plates 39 prevent agitation or motion of the water due to vibration or air currents. The dust and particles of material separated from the air collect in the water and settle in the lower end of the casing from whichthey are removed by opening valve 3l. The screen 40 prevents the dust and mud from settling in the vicinity of the inlet end of tube 35 so that the latter is not clogged up by the sediment.

In my improved separator the dust or other particles of material are separated from the air by the impact of said particles against the bars 21 of cage I4 and also by the discharge of moisture in said casing.

My device is of simple construction, economvasing without interfering with the operation of ical in operation, and highly emcient in performing its intended functions.

While I have shown and described hereinA the preferred form of my separator, it will be understood that various changes may be made ,in the construction and arrangement of parts of my separator without departing from the spirit of my invention. i

I claim:

l. ln a dust separator o f the class described, the combination of a vertical casing having its lower part filled with water, a dust and air conduit opening into the upper end thereof, a blower in said conduit, a tubular air outlet extending upwardly from the upper end of said easing, a cage revolubly mounted in said casing coaxially with said outlet and having a top wall formed with a tubular axial extension projecting into said outlet,' said cage having a closed bottom wall, a plurality of spaced-apart rods extending vertically between said walls and having their ends secured thereto, said rods forming a peripheral wall of said cage, whereby air is admittedinto said cage through the spaces between said rods while dust particles are thrown outward by the impact with said rods, a tubular member extending coaxially downward from said cage into said water, and a plurality of tubes connected to the upper end of said tubular member and extending radially outward from said cage and having their discharge L .ids presented rearward to the direction of rotation for spraying said water into the upper 4end of said casing.

2. n a dust separator o the class described, the combination of a vertical casing having its lower end lled with water, a dust and air con` duit opening into the upper end of said casing,

' whereby air is admitted into said cage through means in said conduit'for forcing air and .dust

into said casing,` a tubular air outlet extending upwardl from the upper end of said casing, a cage revolubly mounted in said casing coaxially with said outlet and having a top wall formed with a tubular extension projecting into said outlet, said cage having a closed bottom wall disposed above the level of said water, a plurality of spacedapart rods extending vertically between said walls and having their ends secured lthereto, said rods forming the peripheral wall of said cage, I

whereby air is admitted into said cage through the 'spaces between said rods, while dust partin cles are thrown outwardly by the impact with said rods, a tubular member extending coaxially downward from said cage into said water, a pair oirdiametricallydisposed tubes connectedto the upper end of said tubular member and extending 1 radially outward from said cage, each tube having its outer end disposed obliquely and rearwardly to the direction of rotation to create suc tion in said tubes and said tubular member and spray saidrwater into the upper end of said casing, and a screen arranged in the water in said casing in spaced relation with the lower end of said tubular member, said screen having an open upper end extending above the level of said water, whereby material collected in said water is prevented from entering said tubular member.

3. In a dust separator of the class described, the combination of a vertical casing having a tapered lower end adapted to contain water, a discharge connection in saidlower end, a dust and air conduit opening into the upper end `of said casing, an air outlet extending upward from the upper end of said casing, a cage revolubly mounted in said casing coaxially with said outlet and having a top wall/formed with a tubular exthe spaces between said rods while dust particles are thrown outward in said casing by the infrn pact against said rods, a plurality of tubes ar ranged radially outward in said cage and having -their discharge ends opening rearward of the direction of rotation to produce suction in said tubes, a tubular member extending coaxially downward from said cage into the water in said casing and having its upper end connected to the inner ends of said. tubes, whereby water is sucked into said tubular member and tubes and is discharged by centrifugal action into the upper end of said casing, and a plurality of bafle walls arranged radially in the lower end of said casing for preventing agitation of said water.

fi. Ina dust separator of the class described, the combination of a vertical casing having a tapered lower end adapted to contain water, a discharge connection in said lower end, a dust and air conduit opening into the upper end oi said casing, an air outlet extending upward from the upper end of said casing, a cage revolubly mounted in saidcasing coaxially with said outlet and' having a top wall formed with a tubular extension projecting-into said outlet, said cage having a closed bottom wall disposed above the water level of said casing, a plurality of spaced apart rods extending' between said walls and having their ends secured thereto, said rods forming a peripheral wall of said cage, whereby air is admitted into said cage through the spaces between said rods, while dust particles are thrown outward in said casing by the impact against said rods, a plurality of tubes arranged radially outward in said cage and having their discharge ends opening rearward of the direction of rotation to produce suction in said tubes, a tubular member extending coaxially downward from said cage into the water in said casing and having its upper end connected to the inner ends of said tubes, whereby water -is sucked into said tubular member and said tubes and is discharged by centrifugal action into the upper end of said casing, a plurality of baie walls arranged in the lower end of said casing for preventing agitation of water contained therein, a screen arranged in said water in spaced relation with the lower end of said tubular member and extending above the level of said water, and lmeans for supporting said screen on said baille walls.

5. A ily ash and dust separator comprising vertically disposed casing having a lower end containing water, an air discharge conduit leading upward from the upper end of said casing, a y ash and dust and air delivery conduit open-A ing into the upper end of `said casing, a cage revolubly mounted in said casing above the level of said water and havingr .a closed bottom wall and having its top wall formed with a tubular extension disposed axially in said air discharge conduit, a plurality of rods extending between and having their ends xed to said top and bottom walls to form a peripheral wall for said cage, said rods being spaced from each other to provide air inlets into said cage, a plurality of tubes carried by said cage and extending radially outward into said casing, a pipe extending axially downward from said cage and having its upper end connected to the inner ends of said tubes and having its lower end disposed in the water in the lower end of saidcasing, whereby water is sucked upward in said pipe and is discharged by centrifugal action from said tubes into the upper end ofA said casing, and means creating Apressure in said delivery-conduit for forcing fly ash, dust and air into said casing, thereby causing the air to ilow through said inlets into said cage and thence into said air discharge conduit, while the fly ash and dust particles are saturated with the sprayed water and are deflected away from said cage b y the impact. against said rods and drop into said water in said casing.

6. A ily ash and dust separator comprising a vertically disposed casing having its lower end containing water, an air' discharge conduit lead-Y ing upward from the upper end of said casingl a fly ash, dust and air delivery conduit opening into the upper end of said casing, a cage revolubly mounted in said casing above the level of said water andhaving a closed bottom wall and having its top wall formed with a central opening, a tubular axial connection between said central opening and said air discharge conduit, a peripheral wall for said cage comprising a plurality of vertically disposed solid sections xed to said top and bottomwalls and spaced from each other to provide a plurality of vertically disposed air inlets into said cage, a plurality of tubes carried by said cage and extending radially outward therefrom and having their discharge openings presented rearwardly of the'line of rotation to producelsuction in said tubes, a pipe extending axially downward from said cage and having its upper end connected to the inner ends of said tubes, and having its lower end disposed in the water contained in said casing, whereby water is sucked upward in said pipe and is discharged 

